From the moment word emerged that 11 Philadelphia Union players would miss Sunday's Eastern Conference final due to MLS health and safety protocols, attention was rightly focused on the five starters who would sit out.
The likes of goalkeeper Andre Blake and captain Alejandro Bedoya would be spectators. So would three fourths of the usual backline, with center-backs Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes as well as left-back Kai Wagner also out. But the knock-on effect was that the Union would have precious little depth to change the course of the match should that be required.